Lunch and Launch with us

Twenty-five years ago, Alzheimer’s Disease International marked the first World Alzheimer’s Day on September 21, 1994, and has raised worldwide awareness about dementia through the promotional efforts of member associations.

“World Alzheimer’s Day has been our most powerful tool for getting our message across and has played an instrumental role in creating awareness” says Murat Emre of the Turkish Alzheimer Society.

Subsequently in September 2012, the first global World Alzheimer’s Month took place with national Alzheimer associations and likeminded groups and individuals in numerous countries extending their activities across the 30-day period in the month of September. Yet continuing to mark WAD on 21 September thereby giving associations the opportunity to host a pinnacle event or activity.The Alzheimer’s Association of Trinidad and Tobago (AZATT) which started as the president’s project when Norma Inniss was president of the Soroptimist POS Club, in 1996,recently attracted a large crowd at the Hotel Normandie on AZATT’s invitation to “Launch and Lunch with Us” on Saturday September 01.

Seeing an urgent need for an organisation to deal with the fast growing problem of dementia, Inniss went on and founded this non-governmental association which was registered as a non-profit organisation in 2000, at which time she was appointed founding president, and only retired from this post in December 2016.

Ann Smith, who succeeded Inniss as president of AZATT,in welcoming guests to the seventh WAM international campaign, shared the bleak statistics that “Every 3 Seconds someone in the world develops dementia. Currently there are over 50 million people worldwide living with dementia and this figure is set to triple by 2050. Trinidad and Tobago has an ageing population and is therefore at greater risk of developing dementia.... It's not only up to the Association to raise awareness during this month and beyond but everyone present must do their part - learn about the disease, learn to spot the warning signs, share the information and support those persons who you come across with the condition, as well as provide support to family members and caregivers.”

Smith then introduced the new Patron of AZATT -, journalist Angela Pidduck, who has been writing about this dreaded disease for more than a decade. In welcoming Pidduck, the president said, “I have been trying to get my hands on the articles she has written over the years. I was able to locate about 35 articles, the earliest being from 2006, but when I searched the internet I realised that I had less than half of her articles in hand and I was impressed to see the quality and depth of the topics covered.”

In a very brief acceptance speech, the now retired journalist summed up her feelings on this appointment – “I am touched.” When her father showed early signs, Pidduck said she learned two things very quickly “patience and love.”

As guest speaker, Dr Jennifer Rouse, Director of the Division of Ageing, was perfect. She continuously brought some degree of humour to what otherwise could be a very heavy subject.

There was continuous entertainment from Messrs Anslem Walters, Andre Walker,and Mullins and also a D.J. The Normandie did not disappoint and served an enjoyable meal.

As the month continues, AZATT issued a reminder of the Outreach Programme at NALIS as part of the World Alzheimer's Month (WAM) activities which takes place from Tuesday 25 to Friday 28 September, at the Abercromby Arcade of NALIS, from 9 am to 3 .m. daily. You are invited to bring your lunch and come to the lunch time series of midday presentations between 12 noon to 1 p.m. where one of the following subjects will be addressed each day: What is Alzheimer’s Disease, Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease, Coping tips for caregivers and Relieving Caregivers stress. Presenters are Dr Rajeev Khaja, Dr Kenneth Niles, Caregivers & Members of AZATT

Individual Support Groups have also organised special programmes starting with Arima which took place on September 8, with an Alzheimer’s Cafe and Seminar, followed by Tobago Support Group’s annual Seminar and Panel discussion on September 20 at the

Scarborough Library from 3.30 pm. And finally the San Fernando Support Group’s Open Day on September 22 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church Community Hall from 2 to 4 p.m.The Fundraising Memory Walk takes place on Saturday September 29 at 7 a.m. on the Queen’s Park Savannah, starting opposite to NAPA. Pre- registration can be done online or at the AZATT office, 15 Nepaul Street, St James, Tel:225-8764 ; on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.